Taking offshore methane measurements to new levels
Understanding and addressing methane emissions is an important step toward net zero, but traditional methodologies of reporting emissions at source level are under increasing scrutiny.
Read more
CNPC
Reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations is a key component of CNPC’s Green Action Plan. Following the success of recent methane reduction efforts, the company announced a target in July 2020 to halve upstream methane intensity by 2025.
CNPC monitors methane emissions from major sources in its full value chain of oil and gas production. Routine flaring is now avoided in both new sites and major existing major ones.
In 2019, leak detection and repair (LDAR) pilot campaigns were expanded in Dagang and other oil fields, helping to cut methane emissions by 12.3% over the year. Used comprehensively in CNPC’s downstream operations, LDAR coverage is now being expanded to all operated sites.
Finding ways to ensure recovery of associated natural gas from oil fields has become part of standard operations. Compressed natural gas integrated units are used to recover venting from remote wells that have no pipeline access, low-pressure associated gas is pressurized into gathering pipelines to make it marketable, and recovered gas is used to provide drilling power to rigs and auxiliary generators.
In the Tarim oil field, 48 gas recovery stations have been set up, with a capacity of 4.2 million cubic metres per day, while capacity at Changqing Oilfield has reached 1 billion cubic metres per year.
What OGCI member companies are doing to reduce methane emissions
Member companies are expanding leak detection and repair campaigns, removing high-emitting devices, and reducing both flaring and venting.
TotalEnergies and Qnergy remove 98% of vented methane emissions
Across many of the world’s natural gas production fields, gas pneumatic devices used for process control and chemical injection vent methane directly into the air.
EXXONMOBIL – Methane management in unconventional operations
ExxonMobil is progressing a comprehensive methane management programme which is on track to meet its goal of reducing methane emissions by 15% in 2020, compared to 2016.
REPSOL – New generation membrane technology reduces emissions
In 2018, Repsol introduced a comprehensive set of internal metrics, targets and action plans to ensure meaningful progress towards climate change mitigation.
SAUDI ARAMCO – Getting results with leak detection and repair
Saudi Aramco’s leak detection and repair programme, enables the mitigation of fugitive leaks, one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the industry.
ENI – Investing in flaring reduction
Having reduced upstream operated carbon intensity by 20% since 2014, Eni is on track to achieve its company target of 43% reduction by 2025.
CNPC – Tackling methane emissions
Reducing upstream methane emissions from oil and gas operations is an important component of CNPC’s Green Action Plan
BP – Mapping and capping methane emissions with Kairos Aerospace
bp has pledged to measure its methane emissions by 2023 and has enlisted Kairos to conduct aerial surveys.
